Believe it or not: In 1897, the first electric taxis appeared on the streets of New York!

Electric vehicles, which have been in our mouths lately and "leaking" into the coffee and tea garden conversations, have started to enter our lives seriously. While some support electric cars due to "environmental concerns", others are very warm because of their "quick acceleration" or cheap filling of their "tank".

It was popular in taxis

It is written in some sources that the first known electric vehicles in history were developed in the 1830s. It is said that Thomas Davenport in the USA and Robert Anderson in Scotland developed the first electric vehicles, but these are not very mass-produced things.

Later on, attempts were made to use the "steam power" used in locomotives and some machines in automobiles, tractors and trucks. This type of vehicle was very popular for a while, especially in England, but it didn't take long to discover that it wasn't very practical. As a matter of fact, aside from its pollution and slowness, it took about 45 minutes to prepare the steam vehicle for driving.

What is the oldest electric vehicle?

Therefore, the acceptance of electric cars was not that difficult. In the late 1800s, serious studies on electric vehicles started in both Europe and the USA. In fact, it is said that one of the first cars produced by Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of Porsche, was an 1898 electric vehicle named "P1". The battery pack, which was formed by combining the batteries we know, provided a range of 80 km to the vehicle, which was "from the phaeton".

Which US city provided electric taxis during the 1900 decades?

On the other side of the Atlantic, in the USA, the first electric taxis began to appear on the streets of New York in 1897. That same year, "Pope Manufacturing Company" from Connecticut became the first large-scale American electric car manufacturer. After 1899, the proportion of electric taxis among New York taxis had already exceeded 90 percent. But the range and charge time, as well as the “just like today” purchase price, were the biggest drawbacks of these vehicles. As a matter of fact, Ford Model T was sold for $ 650 when it first came out, while the prices of electric vehicles started at $ 1750.

As for the gas!

Especially the USA was almost fascinated by electric cars, new electric models were constantly coming out and even races were held. As a matter of fact, in 1902, a Baker Torpedo brand vehicle was produced with an aerodynamic body for the first time and participated in the speed test. The vehicle, which accelerated to 130 km / h in its first attempt, crashed into the audience and caused the death of 2 people. Later, Baker Torpedo set out to set a new record and reached a speed of 192 km/h in the "no spectator" trial.

Even though electric vehicles were more popular than petrol ones, people wanted longer ranges, just like today. Gasoline vehicles could offer this in the most practical way... Fill in petrol and go... The vibration, noise, and sound problems that occurred in gasoline vehicles produced in this period had an important place in the preference for electric vehicles.

In 1908, Henry Ford's new gasoline car, the Model T, whose mass production began, changed the American automobile market from the ground up. Even their preferences in the world… In 1912, electric vehicles that broke records in sales were replaced by gasoline, which was more affordable because they were mass-produced. In the 1920s, electric vehicles were no longer a "desired object".

However, the rise in oil prices in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the oil embargoes imposed by the Arab countries in 1973, and the production cuts brought electric vehicles to the agenda again, especially in the USA, as well as small motor vehicles. For this, US and European companies started to produce and sell tiny electric vehicles. However, the Americans did not show enough interest in these vehicles. Because they were very weak and fewer kilometers driven vehicles. A similar situation occurred in Europe. Electric taxis started to be used in some countries, but they did not attract enough attention.

The real comeback of the electric vehicle began in the 1990s. Because especially in the USA, strict environmental rules were coming into play...

Killed car!

General Motors CEO Roger Smith announced that the production of the EV1, which he introduced as "the most efficient production vehicle in the world", has been completed. 1,117 leased-only vehicles in 1996 were made available only in California, Arizona, and Georgia. However, despite receiving very positive comments from users, it was collected after a certain period of time on the grounds that the lease agreements had expired and were thrown into the scrapyard. While most were destroyed, about 40 of the salvages remained in the hands of collectors to be displayed in museums. “Who Killed the Electric Car?” He even made a movie. However, years later, GM had already rolled up its sleeves “as if nothing had happened” with the aim of producing electric cars again and “becoming a pioneer” in this field...

Today, automotive giants are trying to act quickly for the transition to electric, with the pressure of both institutions and consumers due to climate change. However, the problem of both the length of the charging time and the range and price continues today. Just like a century ago. Moreover, wars and epidemics threaten the availability of vital parts of electric vehicles, and battery raw materials. Let's see how long the life of electric vehicle fashion will be this time.

Science Museum exhibits London's 1897 electric taxi

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/1897-electric-car#:~:text=The%201897%20Bersey%20taxi%2C%20developed,in%20to%20cut%20climate%20change.

The Electric Taxi Company You Could Have Called in 1900

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/03/the-electric-taxi-company-you-could-have-called-in-1900/72481/

Arrival of Electric Taxis in NYC in July 1897

https://www.upsbatterycenter.com/blog/arrival-of-electric-taxis-new-york-1897/

Father of the American Electric Automobile

https://www.upsbatterycenter.com/blog/father-of-the-american-electric-automobile/